My uncle was fearfully in earnest, and his thin hands trembled with excitement when he spoke. In spite of the fact that I was a pretty stout young fellow, I was glad that though he had closed the door leading to the outer office, he had been unable to lock it. It might come so far that I would be glad enough to escape from his presence.
"Did you hear me?" he demanded, seeing that I made no immediate reply.
I was busy thinking over the strange news he had announced. Six thousand dollars and some papers missing from the safe! Whoever had taken them had made a big haul.
I could not help but think of Gus. He was the only one who had been in the office besides myself. Was it possible the young man had robbed his own father?
I was loath to believe that such was the case. My cousin a thief! It could not be possible; and yet if he had not taken the money, who had?
"Do you hear me?" demanded Mr. Stillwell again.
"I hear you," I replied, as calmly as I could, though I was nearly as excited as he was.
"What did you do with the money?"
"I don't know anything about the money."
My uncle made a threatening gesture.
"It's the truth, whether you believe it or not," I went on. "I did not know you had the money, and I haven't been near the safe."
"Luke Foster, do you realize that you are staring the State prison in the face?"
"I can't help that. I know nothing of your money, and that's all there is to it."
"When did you open the office this morning?"
"Quarter to seven."
"Did you clean up at once?"
"Yes, sir."
"When you cleaned up was the safe door open?"
"No, sir. It might have been unlocked, but it wasn't open."
"How long did it take you to clean up?"
"About half an hour."
"What did you do then?"
"I went to Mr. Mason's office to return a book he had loaned me."
"And then?"
"When I came back I met you," I replied promptly.
"And you mean to say the safe was robbed in the meantime. Luke, you cannot make me believe that."
"I don't know when the safe was robbed. I told you what I did, that was all."
"I don't believe a word of your story! You have robbed the safe, and you have the money."
"If you think so you can search me," I replied promptly.
But even as I spoke I thought of the strange letter I had received. What would my uncle say if he saw it? It seemed to me I was getting into hot water in more ways than one.
"I shall search you, never fear," said Mr. Stillwell. "But you had better confess. It may go easier with you if you do."
"I can't confess to something I'm not guilty of," I returned. And then, as I thought of how I had been treated, I cried out:
"You had better look nearer home for the guilty party, Uncle Felix."
My reply seemed to anger him beyond all endurance.
"Don't you dare to insinuate my son is a thief!" he cried. "You low-bred upstart! I have half a mind to hand you over to the police at once!"
And with his face full of passion Uncle Felix bore down upon me, as if ready to crush me beneath the iron heel of his wrath once and forever.
CHAPTER IV
AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL
Mr. Stillwell's anger had reached a white heat, and as he strode towards me, I was half inclined to think he intended to take my very life. He was naturally a passionate man, and the insinuation I had made concerning his son maddened him beyond all endurance.
I could readily understand why this was so. My Uncle Felix almost worshiped his son, and to have any one insinuate that that son was a thief cut him to the heart. I believe he would rather have lost the six thousand dollars, greatly as he might have felt the loss, than to have imagined that Gus was the guilty party.
"My son a thief!" he repeated hotly. "How dare you?"
"Gus was the only one in the office besides myself," I replied.
"And that is the reason you lay the crime at his door? I don't believe a word you say."
I did not expect that he would. Gus was a favored son, while I was but an orphan with no one to stand up for me.
"Are you going to tell me what you have done with the money and the papers?" he demanded.
"How can I when I don't know anything of them?"
"You do know."
"I don't."
I hardly had the words out when my uncle grasped me roughly by the coat collar.
"I'll teach you a lesson, you young rascal!"
"Let go of me, Uncle Felix!" I cried. "Let go, or I'll – I'll – "
"What will you do?" he sneered.
"Never mind; only you may be sorry if you don't."
His only reply was to tighten his hand upon my collar in such a way that I was in immediate danger of being strangled.
"I'll choke you to death, if you don't tell!" he cried. "Speak up instantly."
"I don't know."
His hand tightened.
"Will you tell?"
I did not reply. I saw that he meant what he said, and I was busy trying to think how to defend myself.
When Mr. Stillwell had caught me I had backed up against the desk. Near me lay a heavy ruler, used by Mr. Grinder in preparing designs for patents. I picked up the ruler, and before my assailant was aware struck him a violent blow upon the wrist.
The brass edge of the weapon I had used made a slight cut upon my uncle's arm, and with a cry more of alarm than pain he dropped his hold of me and turned his attention to the injury.
Seeing this I quickly placed a large office chair near the door, and got behind it, in such a manner that I could escape at an instant's warning.
"You young villain! Do you mean to add murder to your other crimes?" he howled, as he proceeded to bind his handkerchief around his wrist.
"I mean to fight my own battles," I replied. "I won't let you or any other man choke me to death."
"You shall suffer for all you have done!"
"I'm willing to take the consequences," I replied, as coolly as I could.
He continued to glare at me, but for a moment made no movement, probably because he knew not what to do next. I watched him very much as a mouse may watch a cat.
"Come, Luke, you can't keep this up any longer. Hand over that money and the papers."
"Let me tell you for the last time, Mr. Stillwell, that I know nothing of either," said I. "If any one has them that person is your son."
"Don't tell me such a yarn!"
"I believe it's the truth. If not, why did Gus steal into the office and out again in such a hurry this morning?"
"I don't believe he was here. I left him in his room at home."
"Are you sure he was in his room?"
"Yes, for I called him, and he answered back."
"Nevertheless he was here, and maybe I can prove it."
My uncle bit his lip. He did not relish my last remark.
"And even if he was here he did not know the combination of the safe."
"Neither